20 x 13 cm. 56 pages. Original red morocco binding with spine title, diagonal gold and blind-embossed diamonds on both covers, gilt on the top and inside edges, and gilt edges. In original slipcase. (Signed: H. Peller). Signed first edition "Greetings from the author, H. Hesse." The two stories were written in Basel in 1903 and presumably in Calw in 1904, but have never been published. Quoted from the foreword: "The two stories in this anniversary publication date from the time of my literary beginnings. They have never been published in book form. In those years, I was very taken with Theodor Storm's stories. This may be related to the fact that, as a young beginner, I put my two stories (as well as Novalis's) into the mouths of very old narrators. That half a century later, now of such age myself, I had to rediscover these youthful attempts and write a foreword to them may be my punishment for my romantically anticipated old age." Published in 900 numbered copies. This copy is in a geometrically experimental master binding by Hugo Peller. Only very few copies were bound in this outstanding design. Immaculately preserved. 70th publication on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the Olten Book Friends Association. - Wilpert/Gühring 2/469. - Mileck 121.